This week I was invited to a home business presentation of a product line. I didn't know what these ladies were selling but the lure of adults and mojitos proved strong. So I went. I arrived to find they were selling a "natural alternative" grocery line - makeup to household cleaners to vitamins. And the presentation started- "my child couldn't breathe......the pediatrician, well meaning but clueless, prescribed steroids- so I took him to a naturopath....." What ever was being sold - I didn't care because I inherently know, that if the naturopath says so, it's bullshit!
This is the snake oil of the 21st century.
The Naturopath We're not nutrient depleted! Everything we eat is fortified up the wazoo! Could we use more calcium, Vitamin D and fiber, sure. But as for the others - highly unlikely! But what kills me is the naturopath prays on the truly desperate -parents of autistic kids. Not only have they convinced these folks that heavy metals are to blame for their child's condition, they convince them they need expensive and painful chelation. Now they are putting them in hyperbaric chambers at exorbitant costs to "cure" their autism. In fact, in my area there are now many free standing hyperbaric centers. While they may be effective for wound healing; this is not why most are plunking down cash for the natural healing by the power of oxygen. I'm in Pittsburgh, nobody here gets" the bends." Sounds like snake oil to me! The naturopaths are also proponents of my pet peeve (and you thought is was the breast feeding nazis!)- Anti-vaccinators. I guess modem medicine has come too far. We're so healthy that these diseases are such a distant memory that people don't recall how devastating measles, mumps, polio, haemophilus influenza, tetanus really were....they were horrible! Now, due to the anti-vax movement, I've gotten to expirience treating many of these first hand! A big Thanks! If you want to put your kids at risk, I suppose that's your right; but you put everyone's kids at risk by lowering herd immunity. You put my kids at risk! And for that, I am disgusted by you.
The Chiropractor Which brings me to my next perveyor of snake oil - the chiropractor A chiropractor did not go to med school. In fact, he may have tried and didn't get in. They are not qualified to do a sports physical on your child- because tight hip flexors won't kill them, but that murmur they can't identify, because they've never used a stethoscope, potentially could. Might as well have that bagger at Walmart do your kids physical. They will also try to sell you "packages" for "adjustments" to cure ear infections and now "adjustments" on newborns. Unbelievable and potentially dangerous! The science isn't there. There's nothing they can provide you with that a good massage couldn't do. They also will tell you vaccines are poison and that puts them on my shit list for sure!
The Doula Doulas (some, but not all, midwives). Anyone who suggests its a good idea to eat your placenta should be suspect. No studies support this. None. It may have its place in the third world where people are truly malnourished and starving. Not here. The claims range from increased milk production to increased energy to decreased baby blues. Until true scientific studies are done - I wouldn't buy any of it! I will refer you to the NYT article "I regret eating my placenta" Because some Hollywood starlet does it - is not good reasoning. (Other things you probably shouldn't do with your placenta - make a teddy bear, use it for decorative prints, or plant it under a tree--- not because it affects me in anyway, but just to know we're all snickering at you)
So this week I've realized that peace of mind cleaning does not come from $20 tea tree oil infused cleaning products. Common sense tells me it comes from using diluted vinegar. But even more sense tells me those Clorox wipes are just fine too. Snake oil is everywhere. Keeps your eyes open! Why? Dr. Austin says so....
Dr. Melanie Austin is an actual medical doctor not just a graduate of WebMD. She is the mother of 2 girls, 1 dog, 3 cats and at times, it seems, her husband. The blog is not meant as medical advice but as the musing of a medical professional on pertinent social topics.